Batting

JACKSON, Miss.—The Birmingham-Southern baseball team travelled to Jackson, Miss., and defeated Millsaps College Wednesday evening, 10-5, in a non-conference game for both SCAC schools.

The Panthers move to 7-5 on the year, while Millsaps falls to 10-5.

The Panthers exploded for a season-high 16 hits, led by senior catcher Bruce Maxwell and freshman DH David Bourbonnais. Maxwell was 3-of-4 with two doubles and a home run, and drove in three runs. Bourbonnais was 4-of-5 with a career-high five RBI.

The Panthers got on the board scoring two runs in the top of the first. Evan Grovenstein started things off and was brought home by an RBI double by Maxwell. With two outs, Bourbonnais knocked in the second run with a two-out single to left.

Millpas answered with two in the bottom of the first. BSC regained the lead with a three-run third inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Maxwell, RBI single from Bourbonnais, and a sacrifice fly by left-fielder Ethan Netherton, who went 2-of-4 on the day with two RBI.

Millsaps evened the score with two runs in the third and a single run in the fourth. With the score tied 5-5 after starter Jesse Meier departed the game, the BSC bullpen allowed no runs and only three hits the rest of the way to enable the offense to score five unanswered runs to secure the victory - highlighted by Maxwell's blast over the right field fence, and Bourbonnais' two RBI doubles.

The BSC bullpen was stellar once again, as three relievers held the Majors scoreless over the final five innings. After Meier departed the game tied 5-5 after four innings, the Panthers ran off five unanswered runs to handily secure the victory. Reliever Miles Nordgren threw three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Nordgren gave up two hits and struck out five Majors. With the bases loaded off two infield hits and a hit batter, Nordgren struck out Jules Rousseau and Wes Perkins to escape any possible trouble. Bourbonnais continued his great day by throwing a scoreless eighth inning, inducing Major center fielder Drew Leonard to hit into an inning-ending double play to retire Millsaps in order. Junior Blake Yance once again finsihed the game for the Panthers, retiring all three hitters he faced, striking out one.

The Panthers return to action this Saturday and Sunday at Sewanee to open up the 2012 SCAC conference schedule on the road in Sewanee, Tenn. All games can be followed live on www.sewaneetigers.com.